System for voice capture via nasal vibration sensing

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure pertains to a system for voice capture via nasal vibration sensing. A system worn by a user may be able to sense vibrations through the nose of the user when the user speaks, generate an electronic signal based on the sensed vibration and generate voice data based on the electronic signal. In this manner, the system may capture a user&#39;s voice while also screening out external noise (e.g., based on the sound dampening properties of the human skull). An example system may include a wearable frame (e.g., eyeglass frame) on which is mounted at least one sensor and a device. The at least one sensor may sense vibration in the nose of a user and may generate the electronic signal based on the vibration. The device may receive the electronic signal from the at least one sensor and may generate voice data based on the electronic signal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. application Ser. No.14/854,927, filed Sep. 15, 2015, the entire content of which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to electronic communication, and moreparticularly, to a system for capturing the voice of a user based onsensors configured to sense nasal resonation.

BACKGROUND

Electronic communication has become an integral part of modern society.For example, people may rely on mobile communications for businessand/or personal interaction, to conduct financial transactions, to queryfor a variety of different data, for location-related assistance, toplay games or watch multimedia presentations, etc. The expansion ofvarious wireless networks such as global-area networks (GANs), wide-areanetworks (WANs) like the Internet, local-area networks (LANs),personal-area networks (PANs), etc., has further facilitated users inbeing able to perform even more activities on their mobile device ineven more locations. Now users may be able to make calls, access theInternet, execute financial transactions, etc. while operating a motorvehicle, riding on public transportation, at work, at school, at home,at a public event, etc.

While the benefits of the above are readily apparent, possibly negativeconsequences may also exist. There are currently active campaignsagainst utilizing mobile devices while operating a motor vehicle. Theoperation of a mobile device when driving may divert the driver'sattention away from the road and cause accidents. Moreover, it can bedifficult to operate a mobile device at public events due toenvironmental noise. These problematic situations may be alleviated bythe advent of “hands free” peripheral equipment. Hands free peripheralequipment may provide interfaces over which a user may interact with amobile device that remains stored, in a charger, etc. This interactionmay take place over a wired or wireless communication link. Examples ofhands free peripheral equipment may include, but are not limited to,speakerphones, headsets, microphones, remote controls, etc. While thesedevices may be helpful, they are not all-purpose fixes. For example,headsets may facilitate hands-free communication, but may alsoexperience problems in certain noisy situations. Wearing a headset alsorequires a user to maintain another device that they would not normallywear unless hands-free operations was desired or required, and in someregions wearing a headset (e.g., earpiece) may have negative stylisticimplications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of various embodiments of the claimed subjectmatter will become apparent as the following Detailed Descriptionproceeds, and upon reference to the Drawings, wherein like numeralsdesignate like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system for voice capture via nasalvibration sensing in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example configuration for a sensor in accordancewith at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 illustrates example operations for voice capture via nasalvibration sensing in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with referencebeing made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modificationsand variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure pertains to a system for voice capture via nasalvibration sensing. A system worn by a user may be able to sensevibrations through the nose of the user when the user speaks, generatean electronic signal based on the sensed vibration and generate voicedata based on the electronic signal. In this manner, the system maycapture a user's voice for use in, for example, dictation, telephoniccommunications, etc., while also screening out external noise (e.g.,based on the natural sound dampening properties of the human skull). Anexample system may include a wearable frame (e.g., an eyeglass frame) onwhich is mounted at least one sensor and a device. The at least onesensor may sense vibration in the nose of a user and may generate theelectronic signal based on the vibration. The device may receive theelectronic signal from the at least one sensor and may generate voicedata based on the electronic signal. Other features may include, forexample, compensation for situations where vibration cannot be sensed,sound generation based on received audio data for use in, for example,telephonic communications, etc.

In at least one embodiment, an example system to capture a voice of auser may comprise at least a frame, at least one sensor mounted to theframe and a device mounted to the frame. The frame may be wearable by auser. The at least one sensor may be to generate an electronic signalbased on vibration sensed in a nose of the user when the user talks. Thedevice may be to at least receive the electronic signal from the atleast one sensor and process the electronic signal to generate voicedata.

The frame may be for eyeglasses. In this example implementation the atleast one sensor may be incorporated within at least one nosepiece forthe eyeglasses. It may also be possible for two sensors to be embeddedin two sides of the nosepiece. For example, the two sensors may becoupled in series and the device is to receive a combined electronicsignal generated by the two sensors. Alternatively, the device may be toselect to process the electronic signal generated from one of the twosensors.

The at least one sensor may comprise a piezoelectric diaphragm togenerate the electronic signal. The device may comprise at least controlcircuitry to generate the voice data from the electronic signal. Thecontrol circuitry may also be to determine whether the voice dataincludes a local command, and if determined to include a local command,perform at least one activity based on the local command. The device mayalso comprise at least communication circuitry to transmit the voicedata to an external device and at least user interface circuitry toallow the user to interact with the system. In at least one embodiment,the user interface circuitry is to generate sound based on audio datareceived from the external device via the communication circuitry.Consistent with the present disclosure, an example a method forcapturing voice data from a user may comprise activating sensing fornasal vibration in a wearable system, sensing nasal vibration with atleast one sensor in the wearable system, generating an electronic signalbased on the nasal vibration and generating voice data based on theelectronic signal.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 for voice capture via nasalvibration sensing in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure. While examples of specific implementations (e.g., ineyeglasses) and/or technologies (e.g., piezoelectric sensors, Bluetoothwireless communications, etc.) will be employed herein, these examplesare presented merely to provide a readily comprehensible perspectivefrom which the more generalized devices, systems, methods, etc. taughtherein may be understood. Other applications, configurations,technologies, etc. may result in implementations that remain consistentwith the teachings presented herein.

System 100 may comprise a frame 102 on which at least one sensor 104(e.g., hereafter, “sensor 104”) and device 106 may be mounted.“Mounting” may include sensor 104 and device 106 being attached to frame102 via mechanical attachment (e.g., screw, nail or other fastener),adhesive attachment (e.g., a glue, epoxy, etc.) or being incorporatedwithin the structure of frame 102. Frame 102 is disclosed as a pair ofeyeglasses only for the sake of explanation. Eyeglasses make anappropriate foundation on which various features consistent with thepresent disclosure may be implemented. Moreover, since eyeglasses,sunglasses, safety glasses, etc. are already routinely worn by people,it also means that there is little barrier to adoption of thetechnology. Users are not required to wear or carry additional equipmentdedicated only to voice capture. Notwithstanding the foregoingadvantages offered by eyeglasses of the types mentioned above, theteachings disclosed herein may alternatively be embodied in differentform factors including, for example, any structure that touches, or isat least in proximity to, the nose and may be able to act as a platformfor the variety of systems, devices, components, etc. that are describedherein.

Sensor 104 may comprise vibration sensing circuitry. In at least oneembodiment, the sensing circuitry may comprise, for example,piezoelectric components such as a diaphragm. Piezoelectric diaphragmsmay convert vibration (e.g., mechanical pressure waves) into electronicsignals. Consistent with the present disclosure, the vibration sensingcircuitry in sensor 104 may be in contact with, or at least proximateto, the nose of a user wearing frame 102. For example, the bridge of theuser's nose is bone, and may resonate when the user speaks. Sensor 104may be able to detect the vibration caused by the nasal bones resonatingwith the user's voice, and may convert the sensed vibration into anelectronic signal that is then provided to device 106.

Device 106 may be configured to perform activities in system 100 suchas, for example, generating voice data from the electronic signalgenerated by sensor 104, transmitting the voice data to external device116, receiving audio data from external device 116, generating soundbased on the received audio data, identifying and processing localcommands, etc. Device 106 may comprise, for example, control circuitry108, communication circuitry 110, user interface 112 and power circuitry114. Control circuitry 108 may comprise at least data processing andmemory resources. Data processing resources may include, for example,one or more processors situated in separate components, or alternativelyone or more processing cores embodied in a component (e.g., in aSystem-on-a-Chip (SoC) configuration), and any processor-related supportcircuitry (e.g., bridging interfaces, etc.). Example processors mayinclude, but are not limited to, various x86-based microprocessorsavailable from the Intel Corporation including those in the Pentium®,Xeon®, Itanium®, Celeron®, Atom®, Quark®, Core i-series, productfamilies, Advanced RISC (e.g., Reduced Instruction Set Computing)Machine or “ARM” processors, etc. Examples of support circuitry mayinclude chipsets (e.g., Northbridge, Southbridge, etc. available fromthe Intel Corporation) to provide an interface through which the dataprocessing resources may interact with other system components that maybe operating at different speeds, on different buses, etc. in device106. Some or all of the functionality commonly associated with thesupport circuitry may also be included in the same physical package asthe processor (e.g., such as in the Sandy Bridge family of processorsavailable from the Intel Corporation).

The data processing resources may be configured to execute variousinstructions in device 106. Instructions may include program codeconfigured to cause the data processing resources to perform activitiesrelated to reading data, writing data, processing data, formulatingdata, converting data, transforming data, etc. Information (e.g.,instructions, data, etc.) may be stored in the memory resources. Thememory resources may comprise random access memory (RAM) or read-onlymemory (ROM) in a fixed or removable format. RAM may include volatilememory configured to hold information during the operation of device 106such as, for example, static RAM (SRAM) or Dynamic RAM (DRAM). ROM mayinclude non-volatile (NV) memory circuitry configured based on BIOS,UEFI, etc. to provide instructions when device 106 is activated,programmable memories such as electronic programmable ROMs (EPROMS),Flash, etc. Other fixed/removable memory may include, but are notlimited to, magnetic memories such as, for example, floppy disks, harddrives, etc., electronic memories such as solid state flash memory(e.g., embedded multimedia card (eMMC), etc.), removable memory cards orsticks (e.g., micro storage device (uSD), USB, etc.), optical memoriessuch as compact disc-based ROM (CD-ROM), Digital Video Disks (DVD),Blu-Ray Disks, etc.

Communication circuitry 110 may manage communications-related operationsfor device 106, which may include resources configured to support wiredand/or wireless communications. Device 106 may comprise multiple sets ofcommunication circuitry 110 (e.g., including separate physical interfacecircuitry for wired protocols and/or wireless radios). Wiredcommunications may include serial and parallel wired mediums such as,for example, Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Firewire,Thunderbolt, Digital Video Interface (DVI), High-Definition MultimediaInterface (HDMI), etc. Wireless communications may include, for example,close-proximity wireless mediums (e.g., radio frequency (RF) such asbased on the RF Identification (RFID) or Near Field Communications (NFC)standards, infrared (IR), etc.), short-range wireless mediums (e.g.,Bluetooth, WLAN, Wi-Fi, etc.), long range wireless mediums (e.g.,cellular wide-area radio communications, satellite-based communications,etc.), electronic communications via sound waves, etc. In oneembodiment, communication circuitry 110 may be configured to preventwireless communications from interfering with each other. In performingthis function, communication circuitry 110 may schedule communicationactivities based on, for example, the relative priority of messagesawaiting transmission.

User interface circuitry 112 may include hardware and/or software toallow users to interact with device 106 such as, for example, variousinput mechanisms (e.g., microphones, switches, buttons, knobs,keyboards, speakers, touch-sensitive surfaces, one or more sensorsconfigured to capture images and/or sense proximity, distance, motion,gestures, orientation, biometric data, etc.) and various outputmechanisms (e.g., speakers, displays, lighted/flashing indicators,electromechanical components for vibration, motion, etc.). The hardwarein user interface circuitry 112 may be incorporated within device 106and/or may be coupled to device 106 via a wired or wirelesscommunication medium. Power circuitry 114 may include internal powersources (e.g., battery, fuel cell, etc.) and/or external power sources(e.g., power grid, electromechanical or solar generator, external fuelcell, etc.) and related circuitry configured to supply device 106 withthe power needed to operate.

External device 116 may include equipment that is at least able toprocess the voice data generated by device 106. Examples of externaldevice 116 may include, but are not limited to, a mobile communicationdevice such as a cellular handset or a smartphone based on the Android®OS from the Google Corporation, iOS® or Mac OS® from the AppleCorporation, Windows® OS from the Microsoft Corporation, Linux® OS,Tizen® OS and/or other similar operating systems that may be deemedderivatives of Linux® OS from the Linux Foundation, Firefox® OS from theMozilla Project, Blackberry® OS from the Blackberry Corporation, Palm®OS from the Hewlett-Packard Corporation, Symbian® OS from the SymbianFoundation, etc., a mobile computing device such as a tablet computerlike an iPad® from the Apple Corporation, Surface® from the MicrosoftCorporation, Galaxy Tab® from the Samsung Corporation, Kindle® from theAmazon Corporation, etc., an Ultrabook® including a low-power chipsetfrom the Intel Corporation, a netbook, a notebook, a laptop, a palmtop,etc., a wearable device such as a wristwatch form factor computingdevice like the Galaxy Gear® from Samsung, Apple Watch® from the AppleCorporation, etc., a typically stationary computing device such as adesktop computer, a server, a group of computing devices organized in ahigh performance computing (HPC) architecture, a smart television orother type of “smart” device, small form factor computing solutions(e.g., for space-limited applications, TV set-top boxes, etc.) like theNext Unit of Computing (NUC) platform from the Intel Corporation, etc.or combinations thereof.

In an example of operation, system 100 may be worn by a user andactivated manually by user interaction with user interface circuitry112, or automatically by the user activating external device 116,activating an application on external device 116, speaking a localcommand, etc. In speaking a local command, device 106 may be in a powerconservation mode and the speaking of a certain sound, word, phrase,etc. may be recognized by device 106 (e.g., in electronic signal form orafter converted to voice data) as a local command to activate system 100(e.g., transition device 106 from the power conservation mode to anactive mode). Other local commands may, for example, deactivate system100, mute system 100 (e.g., temporarily stop sensing operations ortransmission operations), increase or decrease speaker volume, etc.Following the activation of system 100, sensor 104 may sense vibrationin the nose of the user (e.g., the bony bridge of the user's nose), andmay generate an electronic signal based on the vibration. The electronicsignal may be received by device 106, which may generate voice databased on the electronic signal. For example, control circuitry 108 mayconvert the analog electronic signal into digital voice data. The nextoperation depends on the situation in which system 100 is beingutilized. For example, if simple dictation is occurring then controlcircuitry 108 may store the voice data in memory for later retrieval. Ifengaged in a telephone call then communication circuitry 110 maytransmit the voice data to external device 116 (e.g., a mobilecommunication device) and may receive audio data from external device116 pertaining to the other party in the call. User interface circuitry112 may then generate sound via, for example, speaker 118 so that theuser may interact with the other caller. In at least one embodiment, thesound of the user's own voice may be generated through speaker 118 toprovide auditory feedback to the user of system 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example configuration for sensor 104′ inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG.2 shows sensor 104′ within a nosepiece 200. Nosepiece 200 may comprise,for example, at least sensing circuitry 202 affixed to structuralsupport 204. Sensing circuitry 202 may include, for example, apiezoelectric diaphragm to convert vibration 206 into an electronicsignal. Vibration 206 may occur due to cranial bones resonating from auser talking. This effect has dual benefits in that it allows the user'svoice to be captured while also screening out external noise based onthe human skulls natural ability to dampen external noise. The use ofpiezoelectric diaphragms is beneficial in that they are able toaccurately generate an electronic signal indicative of voice and do notrequire external power (e.g., the pressure waves may compress apiezoelectric crystal to generate the electronic signal).

While wire 208 is shown in FIG. 2 to convey the electronic signal todevice 106, the use of wireless communication is also possible totransmit the electronic signal. A variety of sensor configurations maybe implemented consistent with the present disclosure. For example,given that two nosepieces 200 exist in a common pair of glasses, atleast one of the two nosepieces 200 may include sensor 104′. In anotherexample implementation, both nosepieces 200 may include sensor 104′. Thesensors 104′ in each nosepiece 200 may be wired in series to generatestronger electronic signals. In another embodiment, the sensors 104′ ineach nosepiece 200 may be wired individually, and resources in device106 (e.g., control circuitry 108) may then select the sensor 104′ toemploy based on the strength of the electronic signals received fromeach sensor 104′. In this manner, system 100 may be able to account forthe particularities in each user's nasal bones (e.g., breaks, naturaldeformities such as a deviated septum, etc.) and select the particularsensor 104′ that may provide the strongest and cleanest electronicsignal to use in generating voice data.

FIG. 3 illustrates example operations for voice capture via nasalvibration sensing in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure. Operations in FIG. 3 shown with a dotted outline maybe optional based on the particulars of an implementation including, forexample, the capabilities of the system (e.g., of the sensors, devices,etc. within the system), the configuration of the system, the use forwhich the system is intended, etc. In operation 300, nasal vibrationsensing may be activated. Activation may be manual (e.g. instigated by auser of the system) or automatic (e.g., triggered by external deviceactivity, local commands, etc.). A determination may be made inoperation 302 as to whether nasal vibration is sensed by at least onesensor in the system. If in operation 302 it is determined that nasalvibration is not sensed, then in operation 304 at least one correctiveaction may occur. Examples of correction action may include generatingan audible, visible and/or tactile notification to the user,reinitiating the system as illustrated by the arrow leading back tooperation 300, the selection of another sensor in the system (e.g., whenthe system is eyeglasses, of a sensor in the opposite nosepiece), etc.

If in operation 302 it is determined that nasal vibration is sensed,then in operation 306 voice data may be generated based on an electronicsignal generated by the at least one sensor. A determination may be madein operation 308 as to whether the electronic signal and/or voice dataincluded a local command. For example, a set of local commands may beconfigured in the system, and control circuitry in the system maycompare the electronic signal and/or voice data to the set of localcommands to determine if a match exists. If in operation 308 it isdetermined that a local command was received, then in operation 310 atleast one activity may be executed based on the sensed local command.Examples of activities that may be performed include, but are notlimited to, turning on/off the system, adjusting system volumes,temporarily disabling voice capture and/or voice data transmission, etc.A determination in operation 308 that a local command was not receivedmay be followed by transmitting the voice data to the external device(e.g., a mobile communication device like smartphone) in operation 312.In operation 314, audio data (e.g., voice data corresponding to otherparticipants in a telephone call) may be received from the externaldevice. Sound may be generated based on the received audio data inoperation 316, which may be followed by a return to operation 302 tocontinue nasal vibration sensing.

While FIG. 3 illustrates operations according to an embodiment, it is tobe understood that not all of the operations depicted in FIG. 3 arenecessary for other embodiments. Indeed, it is fully contemplated hereinthat in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the operationsdepicted in FIG. 3, and/or other operations described herein, may becombined in a manner not specifically shown in any of the drawings, butstill fully consistent with the present disclosure. Thus, claimsdirected to features and/or operations that are not exactly shown in onedrawing are deemed within the scope and content of the presentdisclosure.

As used in this application and in the claims, a list of items joined bythe term “and/or” can mean any combination of the listed items. Forexample, the phrase “A, B and/or C” can mean A; B; C; A and B; A and C;B and C; or A, B and C. As used in this application and in the claims, alist of items joined by the term “at least one of” can mean anycombination of the listed terms. For example, the phrases “at least oneof A, B or C” can mean A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B andC.

As used in any embodiment herein, the term “module” may refer tosoftware, firmware and/or circuitry configured to perform any of theaforementioned operations. Software may be embodied as a softwarepackage, code, instructions, instruction sets and/or data recorded onnon-transitory computer readable storage mediums. Firmware may beembodied as code, instructions or instruction sets and/or data that arehard-coded (e.g., nonvolatile) in memory devices. “Circuitry”, as usedin any embodiment herein, may comprise, for example, singly or in anycombination, hardwired circuitry, programmable circuitry such ascomputer processors comprising one or more individual instructionprocessing cores, state machine circuitry, and/or firmware that storesinstructions executed by programmable circuitry. The modules may,collectively or individually, be embodied as circuitry that forms partof a larger system, for example, an integrated circuit (IC), systemon-chip (SoC), desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers,servers, smartphones, etc.

Any of the operations described herein may be implemented in a systemthat includes one or more storage mediums (e.g., non-transitory storagemediums) having stored thereon, individually or in combination,instructions that when executed by one or more processors perform themethods. Here, the processor may include, for example, a server CPU, amobile device CPU, and/or other programmable circuitry. Also, it isintended that operations described herein may be distributed across aplurality of physical devices, such as processing structures at morethan one different physical location. The storage medium may include anytype of tangible medium, for example, any type of disk including harddisks, floppy disks, optical disks, compact disk read-only memories(CD-ROMs), compact disk rewritables (CD-RWs), and magneto-optical disks,semiconductor devices such as read-only memories (ROMs), random accessmemories (RAMs) such as dynamic and static RAMs, erasable programmableread-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmableread-only memories (EEPROMs), flash memories, Solid State Disks (SSDs),embedded multimedia cards (eMMCs), secure digital input/output (SDIO)cards, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable forstoring electronic instructions. Other embodiments may be implemented assoftware modules executed by a programmable control device.

Thus, the present disclosure pertains to a system for voice capture vianasal vibration sensing. A system worn by a user may be able to sensevibrations through the nose of the user when the user speaks, generatean electronic signal based on the sensed vibration and generate voicedata based on the electronic signal. In this manner, the system maycapture a user's voice while also screening out external noise (e.g.,based on the sound dampening properties of the human skull). An examplesystem may include a wearable frame (e.g., eyeglass frame) on which ismounted at least one sensor and a device. The at least one sensor maysense vibration in the nose of a user and may generate the electronicsignal based on the vibration. The device may receive the electronicsignal from the at least one sensor and may generate voice data based onthe electronic signal.

The following examples pertain to further embodiments. The followingexamples of the present disclosure may comprise subject material such asa device, a method, at least one machine-readable medium for storinginstructions that when executed cause a machine to perform acts based onthe method, means for performing acts based on the method and/or asystem for voice capture via nasal vibration sensing, as provided below.

According to example 1 there is provided a system to capture a voice ofa user. The system may comprise a frame wearable by a user, at least onesensor mounted to the frame, wherein the at least one sensor is togenerate an electronic signal based on vibration sensed in a nose of theuser when the user talks and a device mounted to the frame, wherein thedevice is to at least receive the electronic signal from the at leastone sensor and process the electronic signal to generate voice data.

Example 2 may include the elements of example 1, wherein the frame isfor eyeglasses.

Example 3 may include the elements of example 2, wherein the at leastone sensor is incorporated within at least one nosepiece for theeyeglasses.

Example 4 may include the elements of example 3, wherein the at leastone nosepiece comprises at least sensing circuitry and structuralsupport.

Example 5 may include the elements of any of examples 3 to 4, whereintwo sensors are embedded in two sides of the nosepiece.

Example 6 may include the elements of example 5, wherein the two sensorsare coupled in series and the device is to receive a combined electronicsignal generated by the two sensors.

Example 7 may include the elements of any of examples 5 to 6, whereinthe device is to select to process the electronic signal generated fromone of the two sensors.

Example 8 may include the elements of any of examples 1 to 7, whereinthe at least one sensor comprises a piezoelectric diaphragm to generatethe electronic signal.

Example 9 may include the elements of any of examples 1 to 8, whereinthe device comprises at least control circuitry to generate the voicedata from the electronic signal.

Example 10 may include the elements of example 9, wherein the controlcircuitry is to determine whether the voice data includes a localcommand, and if determined to include a local command, perform at leastone activity based on the local command.

Example 11 may include the elements of any of examples 1 to 10, whereinthe device comprises at least communication circuitry to transmit thevoice data to an external device.

Example 12 may include the elements of example 11, wherein the device iscoupled to the external device via a wireless communication link.

Example 13 may include the elements of any of examples 11 to 12, whereinthe device comprises at least user interface circuitry to allow the userto interact with the system.

Example 14 may include the elements of example 13, wherein the userinterface circuitry is to generate sound based on audio data receivedfrom the external device via the communication circuitry.

Example 15 may include the elements of any of examples 1 to 14, whereinthe at least one sensor is coupled to the device via a wire.

Example 16 may include the elements of any of examples 1 to 15, whereinthe at least one sensor is coupled to the device via a wirelesscommunication link.

Example 17 may include the elements of any of examples 1 to 16, whereinthe frame is for eyeglasses and the at least one sensor is incorporatedwithin at least one nosepiece for the eyeglasses.

Example 18 may include the elements of any of examples 1 to 17, whereinthe device comprises at least control circuitry to at least one ofgenerate the voice data from the electronic signal, determine whetherthe voice data includes a local command, and if determined to include alocal command, perform at least one activity based on the local command.

According to example 19 there is provided a method for capturing voicedata from a user. The method may comprise activating sensing for nasalvibration in a wearable system, sensing nasal vibration with at leastone sensor in the wearable system, generating an electronic signal basedon the nasal vibration and generating voice data based on the electronicsignal.

Example 20 may include the elements of example 19, and may furthercomprise determining whether nasal vibration has been sensed andperforming corrective action if no nasal vibration has been sensed.

Example 21 may include the elements of example 20, wherein performingcorrective action comprises at least one of reinitiating the wearablesystem or sensing with another sensor in the wearable system.

Example 22 may include the elements of any of examples 19 to 21, and mayfurther comprise determining whether the voice data comprises a localcommand and performing at least one activity based on a determinationthat the voice data comprises at least one local command.

Example 23 may include the elements of any of examples 19 to 22, and mayfurther comprise generating sound based on audio data received in thewearable system.

According to example 24 there is provided a system for capturing voicedata including at least one device, the system being arranged to performthe method of any of the above examples 19 to 23.

According to example 25 there is provided a chipset arranged to performthe method of any of the above examples 19 to 23.

According to example 26 there is provided at least one machine readablemedium comprising a plurality of instructions that, in response to bebeing executed on a computing device, cause the computing device tocarry out the method according to any of the above examples 19 to 23.

According to example 27 there is provided at least one device configuredfor capturing voice data, the device being arranged to perform themethod of any of the above examples 19 to 23.

According to example 28 there is provided a system for capturing voicedata. The system may comprise means for activating sensing for nasalvibration in a wearable system, means for sensing nasal vibration withat least one sensor in the wearable system, means for generating anelectronic signal based on the nasal vibration and means for generatingvoice data based on the electronic signal.

Example 29 may include the elements of example 28, and may furthercomprise means for determining whether nasal vibration has been sensedand means for performing corrective action if no nasal vibration hasbeen sensed.

Example 30 may include the elements of example 29, wherein the means forperforming corrective action comprise means for at least one ofreinitiating the wearable system or sensing with another sensor in thewearable system.

Example 31 may include the elements of any of examples 28 to 30, and mayfurther comprise means for determining whether the voice data comprisesa local command and means for performing at least one activity based ona determination that the voice data comprises at least one localcommand.

Example 32 may include the elements of any of examples 28 to 31, and mayfurther comprise means for generating sound based on audio data receivedin the wearable system.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used asterms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention,in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalentsof the features shown and described (or portions thereof), and it isrecognized that various modifications are possible within the scope ofthe claims. Accordingly, the claims are intended to cover all suchequivalents.

What is claimed:
 1. A system to capture a voice of a user, comprising: aframe wearable by a user; at least one sensor mounted to the frame,wherein the at least one sensor is to generate an electronic signalbased on vibration sensed in a nose of the user when the user talks; anda device mounted to the frame, wherein the device is to at least receivethe electronic signal from the at least one sensor and process theelectronic signal to generate voice data; and circuitry configured to:determine whether nasal vibration is sensed by the at least one sensor;and cause the performance of a corrective action when it is determinethat no nasal vibration has been sensed, said corrective actioncomprising providing an audible notification, visible notification,tactile notification, or a combination thereof to said user.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the frame is for eyeglasses.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the at least one sensor is incorporated within at leastone nosepiece for the eyeglasses.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein twosensors are embedded in two sides of the nosepiece.
 5. The system ofclaim 4, wherein the two sensors are coupled in series and the device isto receive a combined electronic signal generated by the two sensors. 6.The system of claim 4, wherein the device is to select to process theelectronic signal generated from one of the two sensors.
 7. The systemof claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a piezoelectricdiaphragm to generate the electronic signal.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the device comprises at least control circuitry to generate thevoice data from the electronic signal.
 9. The system of claim 8, whereinthe control circuitry is to determine whether the voice data includes alocal command, and if determined to include a local command, perform atleast one activity based on the local command.
 10. The system of claim1, wherein the device comprises at least communication circuitry totransmit the voice data to an external device.
 11. The system of claim10, wherein the device comprises at least user interface circuitry toallow the user to interact with the system.
 12. The system of claim 11,wherein the user interface circuitry is to generate sound based on audiodata received from the external device via the communication circuitry.13. A method for capturing voice data from a user, comprising:activating sensing for nasal vibration in a wearable system; sensingnasal vibration with at least one sensor in the wearable system;generating an electronic signal based on the nasal vibration; generatingvoice data based on the electronic signal; determining whether nasalvibration has been sensed by the at least one sensor; and causing theperformance of a corrective action when it is determined that nasalvibration has not been sensed by the at least one sensor, saidcorrective action comprising providing an audible notification, visiblenotification, tactile notification, or a combination thereof to saiduser.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein performing corrective actioncomprises at least one of reinitiating the wearable system or sensingwith another sensor in the wearable system.
 15. The method of claim 13,further comprising: determining whether the voice data comprises a localcommand; and performing at least one activity based on a determinationthat the voice data comprises at least one local command.
 16. The methodof claim 13, further comprising: generating sound based on audio datareceived in the wearable system.
 17. At least one machine-readablestorage device having stored thereon, individually or in combination,instructions for capturing voice data from a user that, when executed byone or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: activatesensing for nasal vibration in a wearable system; sense nasal vibrationwith at least one sensor in the wearable system; generate an electronicsignal based on the nasal vibration; generate voice data based on theelectronic signal; determining whether nasal vibration has been sensedby the at least one sensor; and causing the performance of a correctiveaction when it is determined that nasal vibration has not been sensed bythe at least one sensor, said corrective action comprising providing anaudible notification, visible notification, tactile notification, or acombination thereof to said user.
 18. The storage device of claim 18,wherein the instructions to perform corrective action compriseinstructions to at least one of reinitiate the wearable system or sensewith another sensor in the wearable system.
 19. The storage device ofclaim 18, further comprising instructions that, when executed by one ormore processors, cause the one or more processors to: determine whetherthe voice data comprises a local command; and perform at least oneactivity based on a determination that the voice data comprises at leastone local command.
 20. The storage device of claim 18, furthercomprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors,cause the one or more processors to: generate sound based on audio datareceived in the wearable system.